Walmart Gives $187,500 to 15 Nonprofits Providing Shelter on the Ninth Day of "12 Days of Giving" Holiday Campaign
Walmart awards grants to organizations from Alaska, California, Delaware, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On the ninth day of its "12 Days of Giving" holiday campaign, Walmart is awarding $187,500 to 15 nonprofits that provide shelter and support to men, women and children in need. One of the winning organizations, Families by Choice, serves its community with transitional shelters and a new program that provides lifetime living for mentally handicapped adults who have been abused or abandoned by their family and are not eligible for state programs.

Over twelve consecutive days, Walmart will award a total of $1.5 million to 140 organizations across the country that are providing basic needs and services such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. Organizations receiving grants today are featured on Walmart's Live Better tab on Facebook. The organizations serve communities in: Alaska, California, Delaware, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia.

"For some, 'home for holidays' just isn't possible. In fact, more than 600,000 people across the U.S. are currently homeless," said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. "Walmart supports the essential work of local nonprofit organizations that provide shelter to men, women and children in need. We hope these grants will help give more people a safe, warm place to rest."

Walmart's November call for submissions resulted in more than 21,677 nominations from Facebook users who submitted descriptions of each nonprofit's impact in its local community. Submissions were initially reviewed by Walmart associates from across the company and then a panel from the Walmart Foundation selected the winning organizations.

The organizations being spotlighted today for "Providing Shelter" include:

About Philanthropy at WalmartWalmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief and Nutrition, Sustainability, Workforce Opportunity and Women's Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. To date, Walmart has donated more than 1 billion pounds of food to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart's giving, visit foundation.walmart.com.